• Session Prorogued

ISLAMABAD, February 16, 2019: The Provincial Assembly of Balochistan discussed governance and employment issues through points of order consuming almost one third of the proceeding’s time on Saturday, says Free and Fair Election Network in its Daily Factsheet.

According to sub-rule 1 of Rule 201 of the Rules of Procedure of Balochistan Assembly, a Point of order shall relate to the interpretation or enforcement of Assembly rules or such Articles of the Constitution as regulate the business of the Assembly and shall raise a question which is within the cognizance of the Speaker. However, the members discussed matters through points of order having no link to the interpretation or enforcement of Assembly rules.

Following are key observations of the House proceeding during third (last) sitting of the eighth session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for two hours and 34 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1552 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Deputy Speaker presided over the entire sitting in the absence of Speaker.
• The Leader of the House was present for 13 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
• As many as 11 MPAs (17%) were present at the outset while 22 (34%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of MMA, PkMAP, BNP-A and BAP attended the proceeding.
• As many as two out of three minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Output

• Provincial Minister for Health introduced the Balochistan Mental Health Bill, 2019 which was referred to the relevant committee.
• Tabled by ANP and BNP lawmakers, the House adopted a resolution demanding the federal government to work on plans for technical training to people of Balochistan and pollution free environment after an agreement with Saudi Arabia to set up an Oil Refinery in Gwadar and Pasni. Three lawmakers spoke on it for 24 minutes.
• Another resolution adopted by the House demanded the provincial government to destroy crops grown through sewage water in Quetta and also check such cultivation in future. It was jointly sponsored by ANP and PkMAP lawmakers while eight lawmakers spoke on it for 23 minutes.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Nine lawmakers participated in debate on an adjournment motion regarding increase in accidents on Quetta to Karachi road for 29 minutes.
• The House discussed drought situation in Balochistan during Zero Hour and two lawmakers participated in debate for 23 minutes.

 Order and Institutionalization

• As many as ten lawmakers raised Points of Order (POs) consuming 48 minutes (31 percent) of the proceeding. These POs were mainly related to governance and employment issues.
• The Session was prorogued sine die. 

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• The attendance of lawmakers was not available to the observers and media.

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Balochistan Assembly proceedings conducted by Center for Peace and Development (CPD) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.